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Aja’s New Release Good Old Soul

Aja’s New Release Good Old Soul

Blurb:

If I were to tell you I wrote a story about a May/December love affair between music and a saxophone named Her, would you believe me? I didn’t think you would but it’s true. Music has been here since the dawn of time. It’s been the melody of life, unfettered, free, and always waiting for us to-dare I say-tame it and guide it with our voices and with our instruments. The musician may have picked up the sax and breathed air into Her, but it was from the music, the jazz that was created, that love was found and where it grew.

Amina Perrin isn’t looking for love. In fact, she isn’t looking for anything. She’s got her yoga, her massage therapy and the community she serves, keeping her plenty busy. That is until she bumps into a stranger who may change her free-spirited mind.

Gabriel Slade is living the good life. Financially secure, nice condo overlooking the city, and the occasional “drink” with a beautiful woman—he has no intention on getting caught up, especially not with one so much younger than him, but here he is… getting all caught up and picking up a long forgotten saxophone he calls Her.

If you’re opposed to sweltering love scenes between two passionate adults, this book isn’t for you.

To purchase Good Old Soul, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791L7NVX

Excerpt:

I sat there sipping my drink, listening to the music, and tried to clear my head. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the whiskey, I don’t know, but the longer I sat there, the easier it became for me to find my peace. It had been a few days since I played the sax for Amina, a few days since my heart clenched in my chest as she walked toward me with her softness and her smile of appreciation.

It was then that I realized that I had seriously fallen for Amina and not just in a way that meant I just wanted to have more sex with her. I had gotten comfortable with having her around all the time. That, in itself, is gargantuan because I love my lifestyle. I don’t particularly like people in my space. Oh, it’s all good for a while, a day or two at the most, but then it’s time for you to go. And don’t try to make yourself comfortable on the low, you know, conveniently leaving things around the house. That is not cool. I took another sip and laughed as I remembered the days when I would check the house after my company would leave and if they left anything, I would have it for them next time I saw them.

But it wasn’t like that with Amina and I wondered why?

Why was everything different with her? Why had I allowed her to take up so much space in my world? And why am I so happy about it?

“What’s up, Gabe?”

I looked to see Russell Harper, the band’s saxophone player, sliding onto the stool beside me and that was when I realized that the band had finished and were taking a short break before their next set.

“What’s up, Harp?”

“Question is, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing much.”

Harp shook his head and said with a chuckle, “We both know that’s a lie.”

I chose not to comment; mainly because it made no sense and two, I had Amina on my mind. Instead, I looked toward the door where a beautiful woman was waiting for Valerie to greet and then seat her. She was wearing an elegant black one-shoulder, sleeveless dress with an asymmetrical neckline that showed off her fit body. Bottom line, the woman was fine. She was the type of woman that I would have stepped to not too long ago.

Without bothering to ask, Reggie, the bartender took the liberty of freshening up my drink and putting one in front of Harp.

“Thanks, Reggie.”

I picked up my glass and watched as she looked around for Valerie and then her gaze settled at the bar. We exchanged glances and then she looked around again and then back to me. She smiled and I nodded my head to acknowledge her beauty before turning my attention back to my drink. I picked it up and took a sip.

“Wow, who is she, man?” Harp asked.

“How would I know? She just walked in.”

Harp looked at the door. “Not her. She’s in here all the time, a real man-eater, that one. I’m talking about the one that got you sitting there looking like someone in love,” he said cleverly including the title of the jazz classic.

I turned and looked at Harp for a moment before looking away. And again, I remained silent, drained my glass and signaled for Reggie to pour me another drink.

“What is that? Is Like Someone in Love the next song you’re going to play?”

Harp sipped his drink. “You know, that ain’t a bad idea. Maybe an up-tempo cut of the Blakey version,” he said nodding his head.

“The Blakey version is the up-tempo version,” I said, all the while knowing that Harp liked to go hard on every cut.

“You call that up-tempo?” Harp laughed. “And stop trying to change the subject.”

“What subject was that?” I asked, knowing full well what he was talking about.

“I asked you what woman got you sitting here looking like someone in love. You tried to avoid my question, unsuccessfully I might add, by referencing the Blakey classic.”

“Everything by Blakey is classic.”

“Stop trying to change the subject.”

I drained my glass and looked at Harp. “Why it got to be about a woman?”

“Because everything is about a woman.”

I laughed. “So, it really is all about them, huh?”

“Yes. When a man loves a woman, yes. If he loves her, I mean, if he really loves her,” Harp said with enthusiasm while motioning with his hands. “And he’s smart, he makes it all about her. You wanna know why?”

“I got a feeling that you’re about to tell me whether I want you to or not.”

“You’ve got that right. But here is why; because when she loves her man, the right woman makes it all about him.”

I stared at Harp and wondered when he became the voice of experience in the arena of love? Maybe it was because he was so scarred from the many years of battle. He and his wife, Lisa have been in a state of war, practically from the day they met, but he married her anyway. Before he joined the Navy, Harp had been involved with a woman that he was so in love with. He wanted her to go with him when he enlisted. But Carol, that was her name, refused to follow him. He left without her and that is when he met and married Lisa. When he got out and returned to Pittsburgh, he and Carol resumed their passionate affair and as a result, Carol ended up pregnant with his daughter, Amara. Their love child.

Needless to say, when lunatic Lisa found out about it, she lived up to her name and went ballistic. She terrorized that woman unmercifully, Harp too, for that matter. She put him on lockdown and forbade him to see the woman or their child. But I guess it all worked out in the end. After years of being unhappy, but staying for the sake of his children with Lisa, Harp finally left her and is getting a divorce. I understand that he’s even developing a relationship with Amara.

But all that history aside, my question still stood. What made Harp the guy I should take relationship advice from?

Nothing.

But the more I thought about his words, the more it made sense. The time that I was spending with Amina, whether I had done it consciously or not, I had made it all about her. And you know what? Amina made me feel that. For her, it was all about me, and that was a great feeling. The best feeling in the world.

“I see your point, Harp,” I said and noticed that the man-eater had taken a seat at the bar directly across from me. She smiled and raised her glass when I made eye contact with her.

“Looks like you’re her prey tonight,” Harp said and finished his drink. “Be careful, I hear her claws are sharp, but she’s worth the price of admission.” He stood up. “Good to see you, Gabe. Maybe you should stop by and jump in on a set or two. Bring the one who has you all in knots when you come.”

“I just might do that,” I said, eyeing the woman across from me. She was beautiful, and I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off of her but I soon realized it was because her eyes reminded me of Amina’s. Exotic and intense.

I looked at my watch. It was just after eight and Amina should be through with her client and on her way home by now. It wasn’t like we had made any arrangement to get together later or that it was something that was expected of me. It was just that I wanted nothing more than to be with her. Not just having sex with her, but just being with her.

And that was a great feeling. The best feeling in the world.

© Aja 2018

Author Bio:

Aja is the writer of sensually erotic women’s fiction. Her stories allow readers to experience realistic, inspiring and soulful interactions between her characters and intense passion between couples overcoming life’s challenges.
Raised as an only child, using her imagination to create stories came naturally to her. Writing her first book in the first grade encouraged her doting and supportive mother to enter her into writing contests to help her hone her craft. Inspired by soulful music and sensual art, she crafts her stories on a whim, using the snatches of time her characters grace her with and stringing them together for completion. She loves prose but has been known to be poetic which can be found, if looking, in some of her published work.
With two published series of books already, including the Unexpected series penned with Roy Glenn, she is working on several projects including Love’s Required and Good Old Soul, a soulful May/December romance.

Author Links:

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Aja/e/B00K30K138/

Facebook Profile- https://www.facebook.com/aja.thewriter

Website - http://ajathewriter.com/

Hello 2017!
Please forgive my negligence  to my blog. Life happens and things fall down the list of things to do. I've missed chatting with you. So.... I will be more attentive to you in 2017! I've got a lot of ideas in my head and I will be asking you followers for feedback on what you want. I want to know what you think and want in several areas, so I will start with this quick survey.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CMTXLPY
I'm entertaining a few new project and additions and these questions will give me some general answers, but there will be more questions to come to narrow down my efforts to give my followers and supports just what they want! Please take this short survey. Thank you, I am SOOOOO BACK!

Second House From The Corner By Sadeqa Johnson

Second House From The Corner By Sadeqa Johnson

Praise for Second House from the Corner

"Johnson is a skilled storyteller with a breezy style, and the journey of Felicia, a strong African American woman, will have particular appeal for Terry McMillan fans." -Booklist

Felicia Lyons, a ­­­­­­­ stressed out stay-at-home mom struggles to sprint ahead of the demands of motherhood while her husband spends long days at the office. Felicia taps, utters mantra, and breathes her way through most situations but on some days, like when the children won’t stop screaming her name or arguing over toy trucks and pretzel sticks, she wonders what it would be like to get in her car and drive away.

Then one evening the telephone rings, and in a split second the harried mother’s innocent fantasy becomes a hellish reality. The call pulls her back into a life she’d rather forget. Felicia hasn’t been completely honest about her upbringing, and her deception forces her return to the Philadelphia of her childhood, where she must confront the family demons and long buried secrets she thought she had left behind. 

From a phenomenal fresh voice in fiction, comes the compelling story of what happens when the dream falls apart. It’s the unforgettable tale of love, loss, rediscovery, and the growing pains of marriage.

Website: www.sadeqajohnson.net 

Author Bio

SADEQA JOHNSON is a former public relations manager who spent years working with well-known authors such as J.K. Rowling, Bebe Moore Campbell, Amy Tan and Bishop T.D. Jakes before becoming an author herself. Her debut novel, Love in a Carry-On Bag was hailed by Ebony.com as “this summer’s hottest read.” It was the recipient of the 2013 Phillis Wheatley award for Best Fiction and the 2012 USA Best Book award for African-American fiction .Originally from Philadelphia, Sadeqa Johnson currently resides in Virginia with her husband and three children.Second House from the Corner is her second novel.

Website: www.sadeqajohnson.net 

Purchase your copy of Second House From The Corner HERE

http://www.amazon.com/Second-House-Corner-Sadeqa-Johnson/dp/1250074142/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Want to WIN a hardback copy?

Comment below in the comment section and tell Sadeqa and I, is your "picture perfect' life, Picture Perfect? 

Happy Holidays!

I  just decided to bring you my favorite holiday tunes from over the years. 

I hope you love them as much as I do, 

Happy Holidays

You're All I Want For Christmas Brook Benton

The Christmas Song Nat King Cole

This Christmas Donny Hathaway

Soul Holidays Sounds of Blackness

Baby it's Cold Outside Vanessa Williams and Bobby Caldwell

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Lou Rawls

Every year Every Christmas Luther Vandross

Please Come Home For Christmas Charles Brown

Gee Wiz it's Christmas, Carla Thomas

Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto, James Brown

Little Drummer Boy, Lou Rawls

Give Love on Christmas Day - Jackson 5

Boyz II Men- Let It Snow

                 Let's Make Every Day A Christmas Day

Silent Night, The Temptations

Ready for October releases!!!!!

I'm TOOOOO excited about the books releasing this month. I'm about to blow up my debit card. First off...

Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life... releases October 13th and I'm really ready to #WakeUpHappy. 

#WakeUpHappy

Y'all do know how much I adore Donna Hill right? Well she's my person and has 2 YESSSS 2 releases this month! 

My at Last Love (Sag Harbor Village)

releases TA-Day!! 

Y'all click that link and support her 25th year in the business. She is also releasing Murder in the Aisles under her alter ego name,  Olivia Hill, Pre-order on November 8th. 

Also I will be at Sharon Lucas' event in Bowie Maryland for The Reading Divas event, October 16 and 17th. I LOVEEEEE this event and The Reading Divas and I will be HONORING Donna Hill's 25th Anniversary, I hope to see you there! Sharon always give a FANTASTIC event and has recently become an AUTHOR!!!! Her book, Plan It will be released at her event as well! I am so excited and proud of my Brown Girl!! She is published under Brown Girls Publications, withe ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray.

Http://SharonLucas.com

Eric Jerome Dickey is my favorite male author is releasing the sequel to Naughty or Nice

Naughtier than Nice... OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK, on October 27th. I've ONLY waited since 2004 for the sequel....

Last but not least, my new fiend and supporter Latoya Murchison, has a great book out named, A Praying Heart. It will really touch your heart and your soul. Please leave her a review to inspire her to Keep Going.

And.... In LitVersations news...., 

The game is doing well and I am so happy!! Have you gotten your Game On Yet??? 

$21.99 includes free shipping!

LitVersations©® The Book Conversation Game

LitVersations©® The Book Conversation Game is a project I’ve been working VERY hard to bring to life for over two years. This idea came to me while listening to people discuss books and being interviewed asking the same questions over and over again. It was like the same questions, different book and same questions different author. 

Boring

I wanted meatier questions; questions that were open ended and lead into a deeper conversation, a real LitVersation! So I created the questions I wanted. 70 questions to get the  LitVersation started!

 These questions open up refreshing dialogue with new and interesting perspectives.

          A fun interactive ice breaker

          Helps others understand other interpretations of the story

          Promotes richer exchanges and inspires thought

          Great for authors to take along to gatherings

          Great gift for book lovers and book clubs

     Helps discussions stay on track and active

     Great for ages

Book Lovers

Even if you don't belong to a book club or discussion group, you will still enjoy these questions, in analyzing your thoughts and feelings about the books you read! They also help in outlining your book reviews and comments you'd like to share in your social media circles or comments to the author. 

                                             Book clubs

 Take your book club discussions to a whole new level with this fun and interactive game that lets everyone come away satisfied about truly discussing a book.

  Authors     

These cards are great to take along when visiting book clubs, just in case the conversation get a little slow, and they make a wonderful gift to the book club. Also I know some authors say how hard it is to write discussion questions about your books, these questions can aide you in creating some thought provoking questions.

                                 Reviewers, Bloggers and Interviewers                                     Spice up your posts and interviews with some fresh questions that will get people talking and commenting. Open ended questions are a great way to get your followers to talk back to you

  Teachers

 In researching I chose two teachers to test these game cards. Each teacher (Middle and High School) used the cards to either have a discussion in class about a book they read or they were used as homework questions and the feedback I got back was inspiring! The students really got into a great discussion and a much better concept of the story and structure of creative writing.

Parents

 You can use these cards with your book club and your children!!

Online Chat Facilitators

These questions are helpful in keeping the chat going

How to play Litversations©®

Each person in the group picks 5 cards from the freshly shuffled deck.

The moderator asks the first question from the card chosen, and

lets the person next to them answer.

The question goes around until everyone has answered.

 The next person asks the next question and repeats the above steps.

The game continues until all questions are answered.

The conversation may spin off into another direction,

but that’s ok, it’s part of the fun!

You can also divide up into 2 teams!

Pick an opposing side from the story.

The team, who makes their points, wins that round.

If no one liked the book, discuss why and how it could have been better.

You can pick a card as you go to keep the element of surprise.

You can have your LitVersation©® members’ act out the characters or answers

 for even more fun!

Allow the LitVersation©® to flow freely, letting everyone to express their views.

There is no right or wrong way to play, just have a 
LitVersation

Sample questions

You didn't really think I would put up all the good ones did 

you???

NOT!

 Order Yours NOW

The ‪#‎LitVersationalist‬ tee shirts are also now 

available

 (Yeah I made that name up!!!)

Only $20.00 includes shipping

or

Buy both for $35.99

Any Questions? 

Please ask any question you may have in the comment section

LitVersations              Order Yours NOW and Let The Games Begin!

LitVersations Card Game $21.99 USD Litversations Card Gama and Tee Shirt $35.99 USD